The NFL has suspended Steelers safety Damontae Kazee without pay for the rest of the regular season and any
potential postseason games for his hit on Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman, who is currently in concussion
protocol. On Monday, head coach Mike Tomlin expressed his support for Kazee.
Tomlin told reporters that Kazee is “not a dirty player,” even though the seven-year veteran has been fined several
times this season. The league stated that he is being suspended for “repeated violations of playing rules intended to
protect the health and safety of players.”
Kazee will undoubtedly be missed, as he leads the club with two interceptions and has the second-most solo tackles
(46) this season. But Pittsburgh must move on.
The Steelers’ suspension couldn’t have come at a worse time, considering they already have multiple injured
secondary players.
Safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) and Keanu Neal (ribs) have already been ruled out for the team’s Week 16 game
against the Bengals. While safeties Trenton Thompson (stinger) and Elijah Riley (high ankle sprain) are also nursing
injuries.
Without Fitzpatrick, Neal, and now Kazee, it appears that Pittsburgh will go with Thompson, assuming he is able to
play, and veteran Eric Rowe as starting safeties this week.
Tomlin said Rowe, who signed with the Steelers’ practice squad at the end of November, may play a part on defense
this week given how weak the secondary has become.
The 31-year-old has made 382 tackles, two sacks, six forced fumbles, five interceptions, and 40 passes defensed over
his nine-year career, but his best playing days are likely behind him.
Just when fans thought the team’s three-game losing streak couldn’t get any worse, it did, and there’s a very real
possibility that Pittsburgh loses with the Bengals (8-6), Seahawks (6-7), and Ravens (11-3) yet to play.
